Meet the 2026 Stella Zhang New Venture Competition Finalists
Congratulations to the SZNVC26 Finalists
The finalists for the 2026 Stella Zhang New Venture Competition have officially been selected!
Join them on May 21 at 5 PM to watch UCI’s top student founders pitch live at the Grand Finale.
Congratulations to every team that submitted a concept paper this year. Making it to the Grand Finale is a huge accomplishment, and they’re excited to see these teams compete live.
Come support your favorite team and vote for the Fan Favorite Award at the Grand Finale!
*Team names are in alphabetical order
Business Products & Services
Abner Computing: Abner Computing is a multi-provider AI inference platform that routes requests across GPU providers in real time based on price, latency, and reliability. This helps enterprises reduce costs, avoid downtime, and improve performance without relying on a single provider.
Simly: Simly is an AI-native simulated electronic health record for affordable, high-fidelity medical training. Built as a lower-cost alternative to traditional simulation platforms, Simly delivers dynamic clinical cases and is currently piloting at the UCI School of Medicine.
Consumer Products
PAQQ: PAQQ is a smart bag and app ecosystem that uses RFID tracking and AI-powered recommendations to help users pack smarter, avoid forgetting essentials, and stay prepared for travel, work, and daily life.
RestWing: RestWing is a patent-protected ergonomic headrest attachment that reduces neck strain and improves comfort during long car rides. It clips onto existing headrests and provides adjustable side support without bulky travel pillows.
Consumer Services
CuraVoice: CuraVoice is an AI-powered voice simulation platform helping healthcare students practice bedside communication through personalized voice scenarios, real-time feedback, and integrated learning tools.
Pipeline: Pipeline is an AI-powered transfer planning platform that generates personalized term-by-term roadmaps for community college students based on university requirements, helping simplify the transfer process at an affordable cost.
Life Science
LAMON: LAMON is an AI-powered platform for early detection and progression analysis of neurodegenerative diseases using digital biomarkers and multimodal data analysis.
NeuroStrat: NeuroStrat uses cognitive games to identify Alzheimer’s risk levels and triage patient care earlier, improving accessibility and accelerating early intervention.
Social Enterprise/ Sustainability
Ascend First: Ascend First is an AI-powered transfer success platform providing personalized transfer plans, mentorship, academic roadmaps, and ROI insights for community college students.
BrickCycle: BrickCycle transforms recycled plastic, glass, and seashell waste into durable, non-fired bricks that reduce carbon emissions while improving insulation and construction efficiency.